MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — A homeless man allegedly told police his decision to brutally beat an elderly woman with a nail-studded wooden plank was inspired by a character from a Stephen King novel, according to his criminal complaint.
Andre Lineaux, 51, told police he beat a 74-year-old woman at East 40th Street while wearing yellow gloves, similar to the main character in the prolific author's 1999 novel "Storm of the Century," according to court documents.
"I did it. It was me," Lineaux allegedly said, adding that he watched a scene from the movie to perfect his attempt to mimic Stephen King's fictional murderer, Andre Linoge, who beat an elderly woman with a cane.
Lineaux was arraigned on charges of attempted murder, assault and weapons possession, and then was re-arrested during his court appearance on Nov. 13 when he allegedly tried to steal a court officer's weapon while he awaited arraignment and had to be subdued and brought back into custody.
Lineaux was arraigned on both of these cases on Friday night. He was held at the Bellevue Hospital psychiatric center after his second arrest but was recently moved to Rikers Island, according to the Department of Correction website.
Lineaux is due back in court on Dec. 8. His attorney has asked for a psychiatric examination to determine whether he is fit to proceed.
